[stylist] off-topic, circadian cycles

[Barbara Hammel]

I never had enough vision to use anything but blindness techniques to get 
things done but I did have enough to see the sun and the color of the sky 
and the clouds in it and the color of the autumn trees.  I couldn't see 
people but sometimes the color of their top half's garment.  Of course some 
of this was fading by the time it left completely.
The last time I saw the blue sky and green grass was the summer of 2000.  It 
had pretty much left but for a brief time, when I was pregnant with the baby 
we lost I got a bit of a glimpse.
For me, I think it's really about not seeing the sun.  I don't know if it's 
a mental thing or a physical thing that makes me so tired.
Of course, it doesn't help now that some nights I get awakened for a while 
or for hours by one or the other of our autistic twins.
Barbara




Let every nation know whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay 
any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose 
any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.--John 
F. Kennedy
-----Original Message----- 
From: Steve Jacobson
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 9:41 AM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] off-topic, circadian cycles

I've been told that my skepticism regarding some of this is unfounded, so I 
have tried to not comment.
Still, I have to ask.  Barbara, isn't it possible that since you have lost 
your vision that you have had
to deal with a lot of things in new and different ways?  Couldn't that 
explain being more tired?  Even
people who have moved from a little vision to none have some pretty big 
changes in how they do things.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson


On Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:29:02 -0500, Barbara Hammel wrote:

>But I think one's system can just be off just because that's the way one 
>was
>made.  I understand what you're saying and it does seem to hold true.  I
>know since I lost what little vision I had, I seem tired all the time
>because I don't see the sun to make me feel alert.
>But some people just seem to be off.  I'm a bit like Bridget in that I'd
>love to be able to stay up later and get up later because I've always found
>night time such an enchanting time for thinking and writing.
>Barbara




>Let every nation know whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay
>any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose
>any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.--John
>F. Kennedy
>-----Original Message----- 
>From: Chris Kuell
>Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2011 5:19 AM
>To: Writer's Division Mailing List
>Subject: [stylist] off-topic, circadian cycles

>Hi Barbara,

>The compound melatonin controls the human circadian sleep cycle. It is
>produced in the pinneal gland in the brain, and it's production is 
>triggered
>through the reception of light in the eyes during the normal course of
>day/night. Many totally blind people have irregular or no melatonin
>production, depending on their eye condition and whether or not the rods 
>and
>cones in the retina are picking up any light, and hence suffer insomnia or
>irregular sleep patterns. A lack of melatonin is also associated with mild
>depression.

>A few years after I lost my sight a friend, who happens to be a
>psychiatrist, told me about this phenomena. I've been taking a melatonin
>supplement ever since and my sleep patterns, while not perfect, are much
>better than they were.

>chris



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